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(No Model.\ 2 sheets slleet 1. J. BOURKE.

SMELTING AND REDUCING PLANT.

No. 484,942. Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

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No. 484,942, Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT Orrrcs.

JOHN BOURKE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO AMOS C. GILTNER, OF SAME PLACE.

SMELTING OR REDUCING PLANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,942, dated October 25, 1892.

Application filed August 3, 1888. Serial No. 281,877. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN BOURKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Smelting or Reducing Plants, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved attachment for a smelting or reducing plant, said attachment consisting of condensing or depositing chambers connected with the main flue leading from the furnace of the plant.

The object of my improvement is to insure the saving of that part of the metal treated which is now carried off from the furnaces in the escaping smoke and vapors and to a great extent lost.

To this end the invention consists of the features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of the invention, in which drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved condensing-chambers. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of acondensingchamber, taken on the line a: :0, Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on the line 0 c, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line to to, Figs. 3' and 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the linez a, Fig. 5.

In the views let the reference-numeral 1 indicate the horizontal flue leading from the smelting-furnace (not shown) to a suitable stack. (Not shown.)

Let the numeral 6 designate a condensing or depositing chamber connected with this main flue by means of a passage 5, provided with a damper, gate, or valve 8, so that communication between the main flue and the condensing-chamber may be entirely out off when necessary. In each passage 5 is also located a fan or other suitable air -blast mechanism 7. Each condensing or deposit ing chamber consists of two longitudinal side walls 9 9, the end walls, and roof. The side walls are formed, mainly, of piers 10, so as to have as large amount of space for screen as possible or as is consistent with the strength and security of the walls. The spaces between the piers 10 10 are filled with screens 13, each screen consisting of the double reticulated surfaces 13 13, suitably framed. Such reticulatedsurfaces may be of wire-cloth of any suitable mesh, or they may be of wire stretched in one direction only, or of other suitable form, so long as their function is subservednamely, to retain between them any suitable fibrous material 15, which may be sponge, cot ton, wool, hair, asbestus, mineral wool, or other material permitting the passage of air, gas, 850., yet straining therefrom solid particles. The wires of surfaces 13 maybe treated with boiled oil baked thereon or with any protecting covering or enamel,if it be deemed desirable to protect them against acid-fumes, 850. Such screens are so fastened to the sides 9 9 as to cover the openings therein and so that the screens become, in fact, a large or even much the greater part of the sides.

In practice I prefer that the screens should not be flat; but in order to present a greater surface to the outer air and to be in a position to be acted on by such air that they should be angled, as shown, these screens should be pivotally secured to the piers 10 by means of hinges B, so that they may be swung-around or opened or lifted from the piers at pleasure, as circumstances may require.

Where the chamber 6 is quite wide, the roof should be supported by a central line of supports 18, composed mainly of piers, so as to interfere as little as possible with the circulation in the interior of the furnace. Each chamber is provided with a suitable floor, composed, preferably, of fire-tile or fire-brick material. Beneath this floor may be arranged a number of small furnaces 32, having the customary grate-bars 33, dividing them into customary combustion-chambers and ash-pits, from which lead fines 34E, beneath the flooring. These furnaces, for convenience of firing, should open on the exterior of the chamber and their fiues 3i should lead to some convenient stack for the discharge of the products of combustion and the maintenance of the necessary draft. In the drawings this is accomplished by having the fiues 34L lead to a longitudinal flue 35, communicating with a stack 36. Inasmuch as the vapors and gases escaping from the chambers through the screens in the sides 9 9 might be detrimental to those obliged to work therearound and even prevent them from so working, hoods 37 may be arranged over such screens, such hoods connecting with a flue or passage 38, leading pass smoke, fumes, 850., through a series of to the main stack 36, a draft being. created thereby under the hoods, taking off such gases and leaving the air clear for a suitable height. These hoods are removably mounted on piers 10, so that they may be removed at pleasure.

The operation as thus far described is as follows: The damper 8, controlling the communication from flue 2 to chamberiti, being left open and the fan or blast mechanism 7 set in operation, the products of combustion passing. through due 2 are forced intothe proper chamber 6-. As in such-chamber the current from flue2spreadsintoamuch largerspace, the current loses much of its force, and some of the material broughtover is deposited from this very cause. also somewhat cooled and condensation of part takes place with resultant deposition. As the only outlet for the vapors, smoke,.&c., is through the screens, kept continuously cool by contact with the external air, condensationa-nd deposition of the metallic elements brought over are completed by suchscreens, only non-metallic gas, vapor, smoke,.&c., succeeding in passing therethrough. After one chamber has been used sufficiently long its damper'isclosed and the damper of another one opened. If it be desired to matteor to calcine further the matter deposited in. the

The vapors, smoke,.&:c., are

hinges and iron shutters (see Figs. 1 and 3) placed in their stead, thereby converting the depositing-chamber practically into a smelting or reducing furnace for the time being, such convertibility adding largely to the efficiency of the chamber.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to strainers of fibrous material for the saving of substances held in suspension thereby. Hence such I donot claim; but

What I do claim is 1. A condensing and depositing chamber having the outer side walls communicating with-the external air and formed mainly of screens, suitable supporting-piers between the screens, hoods covering. said screens and also secured to the supporting-piers, and a flue-with which said hoods are connected, said-.flue leading to a suitable stack, substantially as described.

2. A condensing and depositing. chamber having its-sides providedwith a plurality of open spaces between supporting-piers, screens and metal shutters adapted to be removably attached to the said piers, hoods covering said screens, furnaces underneath the floor of the said chamber, transverse flues leading therefrorma longitudinal fiue with which the transverse flues arecounected, and. a suitable stack con nectedwith the top-of the said hoods and into which the longitudinal flue opens, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BOURKE Witnesses:

L. F; WILBER, T. H. COLLINS. 

